DEVICE FOR SITTING A KEYBOARD

Abstract: Device for sitting a keyboard (11) on a monitor (9). A supporting construction is proposed in order, on the one hand, to provide a support surface as desired for the keyboard and, on the other hand, to prevent the keyboard from easily sliding off the support surface. Said supporting construction comprises an elongated support plate (2), which at one end is provided with a support element (1) constructed in the form of a foot and at the other end is provided with a support element which is mounted such that adjustment of the height thereof with respect to the support plate is possible. By fitting two constructions of this type it is possible to accommodate a keyboard ergonomically in position as desired. Furthermore, a stop for the keyboard is provided by constructing the rearmost support element such that it has a relatively long length.

Description: Device for siting a keyboard The invention relates to a device for siting a keyboard or the like on a monitor or other article, comprising a supporting construction for accommo- dating the keyboard, which supporting construction is provided with front and rear support elements which project therefrom and support said con¬ struction on the monitor, the length of the front support elements intended to rest on the top of the monitor at the front being shorter than the length of the rear elements intended to rest on the top of the monitor at the rear. A device of this type is disclosed in European Patent Application 0 438 058. Said device comprises a rectangular frame which at the front rests directly on the top of the monitor and at the rear is provided with a foot which is designed to be fixed firmly thereto and rests on the lower rearmost section of the monitor. The keyboard for computers, data processing and operations such as CAD/CAM developments is usually separate from the unit provided with a screen and is connected thereto by means of a cable. The aim in the European Patent Application is to provide an arrangement which is space-saving when the keyboard is not in use, can not cause a malfunction in the functioning of the electronics and offers ergonomically optimum characteristics for the operator. Because a large number of different types of monitors having different distances between the top surface and the rear surface are on the market and are still coming onto the market, it is necessary, if the construction according to European Application 0 438 058 is employed, continually to use new constructions specifically set up for the monitor concerned. The aim of the present invention is to avoid the abovementioned disadvan¬ tages. This aim is achieved with a construction as described above in that at least the rearmost support elements are constructed such that their height is adjustable with respect to the supporting construction. The invention is based on the insight of constructing at least the rear¬ most support element so that it is adjustable with respect to the support plate, such that the support plate can always be fitted essentially hori¬ zontally irrespective of the type of monitor on which the keyboard is used. If the device according to the invention is used with a different type of monitor, the support plate, and thus the keyboard, can be positioned horizontally simply by setting the length of the rearmost support element with respect to the support plate. With the construction according to the invention, the user can him- or herself determine the position of, for example, a keyboard, with respect to a monitor in the direction perpendicular to the monitor. The device accord¬ ing to the invention can be slid forwards or backwards, and accordingly adjusted, as desired. Moreover, it has been found that the keyboard can still be used when it is placed on the monitor, the construction being particularly stable. It must be understood that the invention is not restricted to the moni¬ tor/keyboard combination. Another possible application is the possibility of siting a CD-I player on top of a television set. Provision can be made for further positioning of the keyboard if the rearmost support element has a length substantially greater than the cus- tomary distance between support plate and the top of the monitor at the rear. That is to say, during use part of the support element projects beyond the support plate in the upwards direction and thus provides a rear stop for the keyboard. There is preferably no hindrance at the front, so that a keyboard can be withdrawn easily and ergonomically towards the front. Because, in particular, the rearmost supporting surface of the monitor is not only lower than the front supporting surface but is also sloping, provision is made according to the invention for construction of the rear¬ most support element with a supporting base which is mounted such that it is movable with respect to the support element. This type of movability can, for example, be achieved with the aid of a cylindrical pin, fixed to the support element, accommodated in a corresponding cavity made in the supporting base. By this means it is possible to achieve any position of the support element with respect to the monitor. Other constructions which are known from the prior art and make use of balls or are composed of flex¬ ible material are also conceivable. The adjustability of the rearmost support element with respect to the support plate can be realised in any of the ways known from the prior art. One possibility comprises making a slotted hole in the support plate. The rearmost support element is then provided with a large number of grooves located a small distance apart. With this arrangement the slotted hole can, by adjustment, always engage one of said grooves, as a result of which very fine adjustment of the height of the support plate is provided with a relatively simple construction of both support plate and rearmos support element, which construction is inexpensive to produce. By making the width of the grooves greater than the thickness of the material of the support plate in the vicinity of the slotted hole a cer degree of pivotability of the rearmost support element with respect to support plate can be provided. Said angle is preferably about 30°. During use, more than one of the devices according to the invention, more particularly two some distance apart, will, of course, be used. The ends of the support elements which engage on the monitor can be of a rubbery material or comprise any other construction which provides optimum engagement between said ends and the monitor. Non-adhesive or a sive constructions or constructions which function by means of suction and the like fall within the scope of the present application. It is possible to use any material known from the prior art, such as plastic or aluminium, for the other components of the device according the invention. The invention also relates to an assembly for supporting an article, su as a keyboard, comprising at least two devices as described above mount some distance apart. In contrast to what has been described in European Application 0 438 058, said devices can be completely independent of on another. This means, on the one hand, that the distance between them ca varied as desired, but also that the relative positions thereof are adj able. That is to say, these devices can be positioned in the shape of a trapezium or in some other way. Because the two devices will usually be placed a relatively large di tance apart, there is not the risk that the assembly will be stacked fu of smaller articles, which could give rise to obstruction of the ventil tion of the monitor. Because of the presence of the support elements, a is provided between the articles to be supported and the monitor, as a result of which cooling is ensured. Because of the high degree of adjus bility, the present invention can be used on current models of monitors. The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference an illustrative embodiment shown in the drawing. In the drawing: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of part of a monitor provided with t device according to the invention; and Fig. 2 shows a cross-section along the line II-II in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a cross-section along the line III-III in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 shows an assembly of two devices according to the invention u to support a keyboard. Fig. 1 shows a screen, indicated by 10, accommodated in a monitor 9, only the top edge of which is shown. A support plate 2 according to the invention is mounted on top of said monitor, which support plate is pro- vided at one end with a support block 1 made of a rubbery material, which is constructed to be flat on the underside and somewhat convex on the upper side. The section on which support plate 2 rests is, as can be seen from Fig. 2, likewise of somewhat convex construction, whilst the relevant ope¬ ning in the longitudinal direction in support plate 2 is somewhat larger than that part of the support block 1 which projects through it, so that support plate 2 can pivot to some extent about support block 1. The under¬ side of the support block 1 is provided with adhesive means, such as a strip of adhesive material provided with a protective strip which can be removed before fixing on the monitor. The material of the support block is of such construction that optimum grip is obtained, both on the monitor located beneath it and on the keyboard 11 which is placed upon it as shown in Fig. 2. This can relate both to the quality of the material, for example a soft rubber material, and to the profiling thereof. Support plate 2 is provided with a slotted hole 4 at its other end. The slotted hole 4 is made in such a way that when it has been moved upwards a retaining rod 5 can move freely up and down within said hole. Retaining rod 5 is provided with grooves, the width of which is greater than the thick¬ ness of the support plate in the vicinity of the slotted hole 4 (see Fig. 3). When brought into a position towards the back in Fig. 1, only grooves 3 can be accommodated by slotted hole 4 and locking is provided by means of the thickened parts between the grooves 3. Because the grooves 3 are wider than the thickness of the support plate 2, the retaining rod 5 can pivot somewhat with respect to support plate 2. Retaining rod 5 is provided at one end with a termination 7, which, for example, is ball-shaped, and at the other end with a cylindrical pin 8. Said cylindrical pin 8 drops into a corresponding cup in a foot 6, which rests on the top of the monitor at the rear. Like support block 1, said foot 8 can be composed of a soft rubber material which guarantees optimum grip on the monitor. Although it is pos¬ sible to provide foot 8, like support block 1, with an adhesive layer or to construct it in the form of a suction cup, this is not always necessary. It can be seen from Figs 1 and 2 that support plate 2 can be placed in a large number of discrete positions with respect to retaining rod 5. In this way it is always possible, within wide limits of the dimensions of monitors and other displays currently on the market, to bring support plate 2 into the optimum position for, for example, placing a keyboard on top. Support plate 2 can also tilt with respect to the support block 1. Fig. 4 shows the siting of a keyboard 11 when two support plates 2 are present. It can also be seen from this figure that the part of the retaining rod 5 which projects above the support plate 2, and ball 7, serves as a stop for the keyboard. This prevents the keyboard from falling off the monitor easily. Although the invention has been described above for siting a keyboard on a monitor, it will be understood that any other article can be placed on the support plates 2 according to the invention. This can relate to the location of the conventional further peripheral equipment for computers or the positioning of, for example, a CD-I player on a television set or moni- tor, as discussed above. Although the invention has been described above with reference to pre¬ ferred embodiments, it will be understood that numerous modifications can be made thereto without going beyond the scope of the appended claims. For instance, it is possible to carry out the adjustment of the rearmost element with respect to the support plate in some other way, such as with the aid of a screw thread in the support plate and a screwed spindle for the rearmost element, by which means continuously variable height adjust¬ ment is possible. Of course, it is possible using the construction according to the inven- tion to site a keyboard or the like in any other position than the horizon¬ tal.

Claims: Claims 1 Device for siting a keyboard (11) or the like on a monitor (9) or other article, comprising a supporting construction (2) for accommodating the keyboard, which supporting construction is provided with front and rear support elements (1; 5, 6) which project therefrom and support said con¬ struction on the monitor, the length of the front support elements intended to rest on the top of the monitor at the front being shorter than the length of the rear elements intended to rest on the top of the monitor at the rear, characterised in that at least the rearmost support elements are constructed such that their height is adjustable with respect to the sup¬ porting construction (2). 2. Device according to Claim 1 , wherein the rearmost support elements are of rod-shaped construction, said elements projecting a substantial distance above the supporting construction in the use position. 3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least the rearmost support elements are provided with supporting bases which are mounted such that they are movable with respect to the support elements. 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support¬ ing construction comprises an elongated support plate (2) provided at one end with the front support element (1 ) and provided at the opposing end with a slotted hole (4) in which a retaining rod (5) can be clamped, which retaining rod (5) is provided with recesses (3) over its entire length. 5. Device according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the rearmost support element is connected to a foot (6) via a cylindrical bearing. 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the front supporting element is composed of a pliable material and has a convex sur¬ face. 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support elements are provided with adhesive means for fixing to the monitor. 8. Assembly for supporting a keyboard, comprising at least two devices according to one of the preceding claims arranged some distance apart. *****

Inventors: VERBAAN WOUTER, VERBAAN, WOUTER
Applicants: VERBAAN S ABC B V, VERBAAN WOUTER, VERBAAN, WOUTER, VERBAAN'S "ABC" B.V.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: A47B21
IPC codes: A47B21